Tags
EES, S
Admissions requirements
None.
Description
Fossil fuel supplies are rapidly declining. About 60% of Earth’s ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably. Fresh water availability is falling. Species are becoming extinct at a rate that has not been seen since the last global mass-extinction event. Carbon emissions are continuing to increase globally. How can we begin to effectively address these issues? This course will provide an introduction to the field of natural resource management and the concept of sustainable development. Natural resources include both renewable resources (such as water, forests, wildlife) and non-renewable resources (such as fossil fuels). This course adopts a systems framework that will allow us to explore the connections among different elements in the context of global environmental change, human needs and impacts, and the need to reframe and revitalize our current approaches to resource management. We will explore local and global resource and environmental issues such as forest governance, the management of national parks and protected areas, and our ability to ensure sustainable energy supplies. Throughout the Block, we will investigate practical solutions to address, or begin to address, these issues.
Course objectives
Upon completing this course students will be able to:
Understand the importance of various natural resources to human existence, in both a historical and contemporary context
Identify the challenges and opportunities in sustainable resource management
Identify and analyse the key issues in sustainable resource use in different geographical, cultural, and developmental contexts
Analyse a natural resource management issue from a local and global perspective
Understand the concepts, principles and practices discussed in class
Display a capacity to communicate effectively, both orally and in the written form, about energy and resource management issues
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
This course will proceed primarily as a seminar. Each class will include opening remarks/introductory lecture followed by a discussion of assigned readings, class activities, and student presentations. It is expected that students will engage actively in class discussions and debates.
Assessment
Discussion leader: 25%
Oral presentation: 20%
Planning and development hearing: 30%
Final research paper: 25%
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
Readings will be made available upon commencement of the course.
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Bríd Walsh, b.m.walsh@luc.leidenuniv.nl.